Plaiting-machine.



L. T. BULLEY 61 G. E. WHEELER.

PLAITING MACHINE.

. APPUCATION FILED DEC. 16. 1912. 1.139 45%. Patented May 11, 1915.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS 50.. F'HOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

L. T. BULLEY & a. E. WHEELER. PLAITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC- 6 912- 1 139,,454h Patented May 11, 1915.

12 SHEETS-$HEET 2.

THE NORRIS FEIERS CO., PHUTO LITHOH WASHINGTONv D. C

L. T. BULLEY & G. E. WHEELER.

PLAITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 16, 1912.

Patented May 11, 1915,

l2 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WIT/X55555.

.PLLM

THE NORRIS PETERS 50.. PHoroLlTHo.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

L. T. BULLEY & e. E. WHEELER.

L. T. BULLEY & G. E. WHEELER.

PLAITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 16, 1912.

Patented May 11, 1915.

12 SHEETSSHEE 5.

mam g mw 8 2 n l w m K 13 3w W/T/YESSES L. T. BULLEY & G. E. WHEELER.

PLAITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 16, I912. LWQAM. Patented May11,1915.

12 SHEETSSHEET 6.

ATTOR/YE Y5 W/TT/YESSES THE NORRIS PETERS C0,. PHOTO-LITHOU WASHINGTON. D. c.

L. T. B'ULLEY & G. E. WHEELER.

PLAITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 020.16. [912.

Patented. May 11, 1915.

L1139A54L.

l2 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

WITNESSES! rHE NORRIS PETERS CO Dumm 'IYHO \A A'IL INGfON D, C

L. T. BULLEY & G. E. WHEELER. PLAITING MACHINE.

l2 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

Patented May 11, 1915.

WIT/YES 5f 5 L. T. BULLEY & G. E. WHEELER.

PLAITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC-16,1912.

WM. E

By m y gmfi. A $52 255 7.5.

THE NORRIS PETERS co PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D. 1;.

L. T. BULLEY & G. E. WHEELER.

PLAITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0101s. 1912.

LMQAMO Patented May11,1915.

12 SHEETS-SHEET I0.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO-LLTHO" WASHINGTON. D. C.

L. T. BULLEY & G. E. WHEELER.

PLAITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 16. 1912.

Patented May 11, 1915.

I2 SHEETS-SHEET 11.

Ra -i TNE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO LITHON WASHINGTON, D. C

L. T. BULLEY & G. E: WHEELER.

PLAITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 16, 1912.

Ru- 7 1 m v a VIP MZ H a n Eu N m Ti M w W W m MMWA um m Y 5 mm UNXTEE TATES PATENT @FFllQE.

LOUIS T. BULLEY AND GARDNER E. WHEELER, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

PLAITING-MACHINE.

Application filed December 16, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, Louis T. BULLEY and GARDNER E. l/VI-IEELER, both citizens of the United States, residing in New Haven, county of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plaiting-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates primarily to machines for forming plaits in sheet metal, and it has special reference to machines for forming a plurality of equally spaced trans verse plaits in long strips of brass or like metal which are to be used in the manufacture of radiator sections for automobile radiators. The utility of the machine is not limited, however, to this particular line of manufacture, as the various products which may be made without departing from the general principles of our invention will be found useful in other connections.

Heretofore the plaiting of metal sheets or strips has been effected in some instances by a machine which corrugates the sheet and then closes up the corrugations to form the plaits. When this method is employed it has been found necessary to form each corrugation by a series of successive operations in order to make it sufiiciently sharp or acute, and after the corrugation is brought into the desired shape it is necessary to subject the stock to a still further operation, of an altogther different character, for the purpose of closing the side walls of the corrugation to form the plait. Such a procedure therefore necessitates a large number of operations on the metal before the plait is finally formed, and hence the capacity of the machine is quite limited as a result of the comparatively slow bending up of each individual plait. In other instances, a type of machine has been employed in which the plait is formed at a single folding operation by means of oppositely arranged pairs of movable jaws which grip the sheet of stock along laterally spaced lines and are then moved together to bend or fold into a plait that portion of the sheet which extends be tween them. However, only one plait is formed at a time, and hence in this case also the capacity of the machine is considerably restricted.

Our present invention has among its primary objects the elimination of the drawbacks above recited, and we aim to provide Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May ill, 1915.

Serial No. 737,132.

a machine in which a plurality of plaits are completely folded or bent up from the flat stock at a single operation, so that the capacity of the machine is very largely increased as compared to the machines which have been heretofore devised. We also propose to provide mechanism for forming each plait very accurately by a single folding of the stock; to furnish adjusting means by which the dimensions of the product may be varied with great nicety and precision; to provide means of adjustment whereby the depth of two simultaneously formed plaits may be varied within certain limits while maintaining exact equality and uniformity between them; to improve the construction of the bending or folding parts and the mechanism for operating the same; to coordinate a number of plaiting instrumentalities with each other and with feeding mechanism in a simple, compact and superior manner; and to combine maximum simplicity and accessibility of the machine construction as a whole with maximum capacity and efficiency and maximum accuracy and uniformity of the finished product.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation of a metal plaiting machine embodying our invention, Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same with certain parts shown in vertical longitudinal section, Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the machine with the omission of the upper in termediate gripping member and its associated mechanism and of the operating mechanism for the several devices, Fig. 4 is an enlarged end view of a portion of Fig. 1 with the frame of the machine partially broken away, Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4, Figs. 6 and 7 show, in conjunction, an enlarged vertical longitudinal section of the plaiting mechanism, Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical transverse section of the plaiting mechanism on line 8-8 of Fig. 2, Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section on line 9 9 of Fig. 8, Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the die clamping mechanism shown in Fig. 8, Fig. 11 is an enlarged section on line 1111 of Fig. 2, Fig. 12 is a detail front elevation, partly in section, of the upper intermediate gripping member and its associated stock guiding elements, Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 12, Fig. 13 is a detail perspective view of one of the stock guiding elements, which force the stock into the spaces between the movable gripping devices and the lower intermediate gripping member or anvil, Fig. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of the left hand portion of the machine as shown in Fig. 2, with a number of parts broken away, illustrating the feeding of the stock through the machine, Figs. 15 to 22 inclusive are front elevations of the plaiting mechanism, with some parts in section and other parts omitted, illustrating the different stages in the operation, Fig. 23 is a section on line 23-23 of Fig. 22, Fig. 24 is a detail section partly on line 2424 and partly on line 24"24 of Fig. 23, Fig. 25 is an enlarged detail section of a portion of the plaiting mechanism in the position shown in Fig. 17, Fig. 26 is a similar view showing the parts in the position illustrated in Fig. 20, Fig. 27 is an enlarged detail section of the means for holding the upper jaws of the movable gripping devices normally in their elevated positions, Fig. 28 is a sectional detail of the means for starting the return movement of the right hand movable gripping device (Fig. 20) after the completion of the plaiting operation, Fig. 29 is a sectional detail of the means for frictionally controlling the sliding movement of the movable gripping devices, Fig. 30 is 'a fragmentary perspective, view of the dies carried by the upper and lower interme diate grippers, Fig. 31 is a similar view of the end portions of the hardened inserts carried by one of the movable gripping devices, Fig. 32 is a detail transverse section of the adjustable connection between one of the main lever arms and the link to actuate one of the movable gripping devices, and Fig. 33 is a detail longitudinal section of the parts shown in Fig. 32.

Referring to the drawings, our improved machine comprises in its general features a suitably supported base or bed plate A having standards B in which a main driving shaft C is journaled. The driving shaft C is driven by a suitable source of power, for instance, by means of an electric motor (not shown) connected by a belt (not shown) with a belt pulley D on one end of the shaft C. On the bed or base A, rectilinear guides E, F are arranged in line with each other longitudinally of the machine, and mounted in the respective guides are movable gripping devices G, H respectively, arranged to move toward and away from each other. The device G is operated by means including a lever I pivoted at J in a cross piece or bridge K connecting the standards B, and oscillated by means of a cam L on one end of the shaft C. The device H is actuated in a generally similar manner by means including a lever M pivoted in the bridge or cross piece K at N, and oscillated by means of a cam O at that end of the shaft C opposite the cam L. Between the cams L and 0 three cams P, Q, R are fixed to the shaft C. The cams P and R actuate reciprocating stock guiding devices S, T respectively, while the cam Q, opens and closes a gripping device U, V fixed lengthwise of the machine between the movable gripping de-' vices G, H.

Referring now to the detailed construction of the machine, it will be noted that the gripping device G in the guide E is composed of jaws 37 and 42. The guide E is constituted by upright side members 35 (Fig. 14) having overhanging longitudinal strips 36 at their upper ends which retain in place the lower aw 37, which is formed as a sliding block set in between the side members or guide walls 35 and having shouldered upright side walls 38 engaged with the strips 36 to prevent vertical or transverse movement of the jaw relatively to its guideway, though permitting a longitudinal sliding movement. Between that wall 35 of the guideway which is at the front of the machine, and the adjacent side face of the lower jaw 37, a gib 39 is interposed, and said gib 39 is adjustable toward and away from the jaw by means of screw plugs 40 in said wall 35. Between the plug 40 and the gib 39 a spring 41 is interposed, as shown in Fig. 29, so as to force the gib against the member 37. As the plugs 40 are adjusted in and out, the effect of the springs 41 will be varied in an obvious manner and the frictional contact between the gib and the jaw member may be regulated as desired, in order to control the facility with which the jaw member may slide in its guideway.

The upper jaw 42 is pivoted to the lower jaw 37 by means of a pintle 43 extending between the side walls 38 at the leftend of the lower This jaw 42 consists of a fiat plate fitting between the side Walls 38 of the lower aw and having its upper surface about flush with the top surfaces of said side walls when the parts are in normal position. The under surface of the jaw 42 is opposed to the upper surface of the bed of the jaw 37, and at the point of pivoting the jaws together by means of the pintle 43 sufficient clearance is left between the jaws to permit the insertion of the sheet of metal 44which is to be operated upon. At the opposite or free ends of the jaws 37, 42 the latter are provided with metal gripping surfaces afforded by inserts 45, 45 of hard metal. These hard metal inserts carried by the free ends of the respective jaws, have comparatively wide, flat surfaces between which the metal strip 44 is tightly gripped as the jaws are closed;

The gripping device G is actuated from the lever I by means of a connecting link 46 pivoted to a crank 47 on a transverse sleeve 48 carried by the lower jaw 37. This sleeve is mounted for oscillation on a bolt 49 connecting lugs or bearings 50 projecting upward from the respective side walls 38 of the lower jaw. The link 46 is pivoted to the crank 47 by means of a nutted bolt 51, and the link is pivoted to the lever I by means of a nutted bolt 52. Referring particularly to Figs. 32 and 33, it will be noted that the link 46 is provided with a forked extremity 46 within which the extremity of the lever I is fitted. The end portions 52", 52 of the bolt 52 fit openings in the branches or tines of the fork, while the intermediate portion 52 of the bolt fits a correspondingly shaped opening in the lever I. The portion 52 is formed as an eccentric, so that as the bolt is turned to a certain extent on its axis in the forked portion of the link, the lever and link will be moved laterally with respect to each other in one or the other direction. The

sleeve 48 is provided at its respective ends with integral blocks 53 overlying the respective bearings 50 and provided with concave under surfaces cotiperating with convex surfaces on the upper ends of the lugs or bearings 50, whereby the blocks 53 are firmly supported for oscillation about the axis of the sleeve or crank shaft 48. The blocks 53 are provided with adjustable clamping screws 54, the lower ends of which protrude through the blocks and are adapted to contact with hard metal inserts 55 on the upper surface of the jaw 42 (Figs. 3 and 15). The screws 54 are inclined somewhat with respect to the vertical so that their lower ends are approximately in the longitudinal center line of the blocks 53 and shaft 48. In addition to the screws 54, the blocks 53 are each provided at opposite sides of the crank shaft axis with screws 56 and 57 respectively, which are arranged vertically and whose lower projecting ends are adapted to contact with sliding pins 58, 59 respectively, movable vertically in the side walls 38 of the lower jaw 37. The upper ends of the sliding pins 58, 59 project slightly above the top surfaces of the walls 38 and are enlarged to present substantial bearing surfaces for the respective cooperating screws. The pins 58 and 59 may, if desired, cotiperate with sockets 100 formed in the bed E of the guideway E at opposite sides, each socket 100 having a pin 101 therein urged in an upward direction by a coiled spring 102, for the purpose to be hereinafter described.

In order to hold the gripping surface of the upper jaw 42 normally separated from the coijperating surface of the lower jaw to an extent sur'licient to permit the sheet 44 to be moved freely relatively to the jaws, and vice versa, the following mechanism is provided: Attached at opposite sides to the upper surface of the aw 42 are small plates 60, one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 27. Each plate is secured rigidly to the upper jaw by means of a screw 61, and it r;

overhangs to a certain extent the corresponding upright side wall 38 of the lower jaw. Within the wall 38 a coiled spring 62 is housed in a suitable socket 63, bearing at one end against the bottom of the socket and at the opposite end against the under surface of the plate 60. The tendency of the spring 62 is to raise the plate 60 of the jaw 42 to such an extent that the clamping surface of said jaw 42 will be con siderably separated from the cooperating surface of the lower jaw, but the action of the spring in this respect is limited and controlled by means of a screw 64 which passes loosely through an opening in the plate 60 and is screwed into the bottom of the socket. The head 64 of said screw is larger than the opening in the plate 60 so that said head acts as a stop for the plate to limit the upward movement thereof and of the upper jaw. Manifestly the adjustment of the screw 64 by screwing it into or out of its socket will vary correspondingly the distance at which the upper jaw will be normally separated from the lower jaw by means of the spring 62. It will be understood, of course, that the arrangement'of the plates and springs is the same at both sides of the jaw 42 so that the spring action on the aw will be uniformly distributed.

In order to arrest the device G at the desired point in its travel away from the gripping device U, V, we provide adjustable stop means in association with the guideway E. This stop means may comprise a bracket 65 bolted or screwed to the left hand end of the guideway (Figs. 2 and 15) and carrying an adjustable stop screw 66 against which the adjacent end of the lower jaw 37 is adapted to abut. As this screw 66 is screwed through its threaded opening in the bracket 65 the retreating movement of the device G relatively to the device U, V will be correspondingly shortened, whereas an opposite adjustment of the screw 66 will permit a lengthening of the sliding movement of the device G. The top of the bracket 65 should obviously be located below the clearance space between the jaws 37, 42 so that it will not obstruct the entering sheet of stock.

The guideway F is substantially similar to the guideway E previously described. The upper jaw 67 of the device H is also generally similar to the upper jaw 42. However, instead of being pivoted directly to the lower jaw it is pivoted to a guide block 68 slidable lengthwise in the guideway F and fitted therein in substantially the same manner as the lower jaw 37 is fitted in the guideway E. The lower jaw 69 of the device H is in turn pivoted independently to the block 68 and has a swinging movement relatively to said block toward and away'from the upper jaw- 67. The main portions of the upper and lower jaws 67, 69- are separated by a web 7 0 extending horizontally between and connected with the upright side walls 70 of the block 68, the jaw 67 being above the web and the jaw 69 lying for the most part beneath the latter. The upper jaw 67 is pivoted to the block 68 by a pintle 71 connecting the side walls. 70 of the block in substantially the same manner as the pintle as previously described con.- nects the side walls of the jaw 37. The lower jaw 69 is pivoted to the block 68 by means of pins 72 located adjacent the pintle 71. The web 7 0 does not extend completely to either end of the block 68 and thereby clears a depending portion 78 by means of which the jaw 69 is pivoted to the pins 72,

and said web also clears at its opposite end a gripping block 74 of hard metal carried by the free end of the lower jaw and extending upward alongside the adjacent end of the web to coiiperate with a gripping block or insert 75 of hard metal carried by the free end of the upper jaw 67. The jaws 67, 69 and the web 70 are so arranged that the block or inserts 74:, 75 may be tightly clamped on a fiat portion of the metal sheet while providing suflicient clearance between the main portion of the upper jaw and the web to prevent the deformation of the plaited portion of the sheet between the web 70 and the body portion of the jaw 67, as hereinafter described. The upper jaw 67 is normally held at the desired elevation by means of spring pressed plates 60 and stops 64: similar to those previously described. The facility with which the block 68 may slide in the guideway 58 is controlled by means of a spring pressed gib 39 similar to that previously described in connection with the jaw 37 and adjustable by similar screw plugs 40.

The block or carrying member 68 on which the, jaws 67, 69 are independently mounted is connected with the corresponding operating lever M by connections similar to those between the lever I and the jaw 37. Extending upward from the side walls 70 of said block or carrying member are lugs or ears 76 similar to the lugs or ears 50, and serving to support a cross rod or bolt 77 on which a sleeve or shaft 78 similar to the sleeve or shaft 48 is mounted for oscillation. On the sleeve or shaft 78 is a crank 79 pivotally connected by means of a nutted bolt 80 with one end of a link 81. The opposite end of the link 81 is connected with the lower end of the lever M by means of a special form of nutted bolt 82 similar to the bolt 52, so that the lever and link may be adjusted laterally with respect to each other in the manner previously described. The sleeve or shaft 78 is provided at its ends with blocks 83 similar to the blocks 53 and mounted to oscillate on the lugs or ears 76. Each block 83 carries screws 84 similar to the screws 5 1 previously described and adapted to coeperate with hardened inserts or plugs 85 'set in the upper face of the jaw 67' and similar to the plugs or inserts 55. Each block 83. is moreover provided with screws 86 and 87 similar to the screws 56 and 57 and adapted to coeperate with sliding pins '88 and 89, similar to the pins 58. and 59 and vertically guided in the upright side walls of the block or carrying member 68. The pins 88 and 89 pass downward completely through the side walls of the block or carrying member and may, if desired, coiiperate with pairs of sockets 90, 91 similar to the single pair of sockets 100. The sockets serve as guides for vertically directed pins 92 urged in upward direction by springs 93, and the sockets 91 serve to guide pins 96L urged in upward direction bysprings 95. The sockets 90 and 91 are formed in the bed F of the guideway F at different points in the length of said guideway and. the particular function of said sockets and of the spring pressed pins guided therein will be pointed out hereinafter.

The carrying member 68 and jaws 67 and 69 of the device G are normally held away from the gripping device U, V by means such as spring pressed pins 96 mounted in brackets 97 secured at opposite sides of the right hand end (Fig. 3) of the carrying member or block 68. Each bracket 97 may be secured to the carrying member or block by means of a screw 98 and each pin 96 is projected normally out of a socket 99- in the bracket by means of a spring 103. As the block or carrying member is moved to-v ward the device U, V the headof each pin 96 will contact with the end portion of the spring back from the same for the purpose hereinafter explained.

The cams L, O for actuating the respective movable gripping devices G, H are shown as of generally cylindrical form, having on their peripheries cam groves 104 and 105 respectively. The ,groovelO of cam L is engaged in the well known manner by an anti-friction roller 106 on the upper extremity of the lever I, and the groove 105 of cam O is similarly engaged by an anti-friction roller 107 on the lever M. The rollers 106, 107 are engaged with the respective cams at the rear of the latter, as shown by the dotted lines in Figs. 1 and on the pins J, N in the vertical plane of the main driving shaft C it is necessary to offset the upper end portions or branches of the respective levers, as shown, in order to carry them up substantially to the horizontal plane of the main driving shaft. As the driving shaft is rotated, the cams L, 0 will oscillate the levers I, M respectively in a direction lengthwise of the machine and the movable gripping devices G, H will be reciprocated in the guideways E, F respec tively toward and away from the fixed intermediate gripping device U, V. In order to prevent any upward springing of the main shaft C, we prefer to connect the standards at the top by means of a yoke 108 carrying an intermediate pillow block or abutment 109 forming a bearing for the shaft at the upper part of its intermediate portion.

Turning now to the particular construction and arrangement of the intermediate gripping device, it has been previously stated that the members U, V are actuated by means of the cam Q. This latter cam is illustrated as of the disk type, having a face groove engaged by an anti-friction roller 110 at the upper end of a sliding bar 111. The bar 111 is preferably of angular cross section, as shown in Fig. 11, and it is rectilinearly guided in a vertical direction in the cross piece or bridge K of the main frame. A gib or key 112 is placed in the guideway of the bridge K in which the bar 111 is guided, and said gib or key may be adjusted toward and away from said bar by means of an adjusting screw 113. The gib is forced snugly against the bar by the adjusting screw in order that the bar may be prevented from lateral play in its guide. The gib will naturally be formed of Babbitt or other anti-friction metal. The lower end of the sliding bar 111 is provided with a cross head 11 1 disposed transversely of the machine and adapted for connection with the upper intermediate gripping member U. The member U is preferably formed as a flat plate narrower at the top than at the bottom. The connection between the plate and cross head is preferably an adjustable one to permit the adjustment of the plate in a vertical direction with respect to the bar, and in the embodiment illustrated, we have shown the cross head 11% provided with a fork 115 in which the upper end of the plate is adjustably fitted. Bolts 116 connect the branches of the fork 115 and pass through openings 117 in the upper end of the plate U, which openings are of elongated form to permit the plate to be adjusted vertically to a certain extent. A key 118 is fitted between one side face of the plate U and the opposing branch of the fork 115 and is provided with a clearance slot 119 to clear one of the bolts 116 and with a clearance notch 120 to clear the other bolt. The key 118 is provided with a Wedge shaped portion 121 overlying the top surface of the plate U, which is inclined from front to rear to cooperate with the incline of the wedge. Hence as the key 118 is pushed farther into the fork 115 the grip ping plate U will be moved downward with reference to its supporting bar. When the plate has been placed in the desired position lengthwise of its supporting bar, by manipulation of the wedge shaped key, the bolts 116 are tightened in order to lock the parts tightly in the adjusted position.

The plate U is provided at its lower edge portion with a hardened block or insert 121, the lower surface of which may be shaped to give a portion of the strip of metal 44: any special form which may be desired. The part 121 cooperates with a similar part 122 carried by the lower gripping member V, and in the embodiment illustrated the blocks 121, 122 are shaped as dies to offset the edges of the sheet of stock as the latter is pinched or pressed between the gripping members U, V. Each block or die is removably clamped in place at both ends by means of gibs or keys 123 (Fig. 10) slidably adjustable by means of screw plugs 124: at the ends of the plates U, V. As each screw plug 124 is rotated to advance the gib 123 toward its corresponding block or die, a lug 125 on the gib will be forced into a notch 126 in the end of the corresponding block or die. In this manner each block or die may be removably clamped in place between the gibs at the ends thereof, and by the relative adjustment of the gibs the die may be shifted longitudinally to a certain extent and horizontally of its associated gripping member. Each gib is prevented from lateral dislocation by means of a shoulder 127 operating in a notch 128 in the corresponding gripping member or plate, and the opposing faces of two cooperating gibs, i. e. the faces which carry the lugs 125, are inclined with respect to each other to form a dovetailed seat for the corresponding die so that it will be held snugly in its socket in the corresponding gripping plate. The adjusting screw or plug 124 for each gib adjusts the latter by engagement with a shank 129 on the gib extending into the bore into which the screw or plug is fitted.

In Fig. 10 we have shown the gripping plate, gib and die block separated from each other to illustrate the construction more clearly but it will be understood, of course, that in the assembled position the shoulder 127 of the gib isalways engaged with'the notch 128 in the gripping plate while the lug 125 of the gib is always engaged with the notch 126 in the end of the die block.

In case the sheet of stock is to be offset at its side edges between the plaits which are to be formed, the gripping surfaces of the hardened inserts 45 and 45 of the left hand movable gripping device G will be shaped to correspond generally with the gripping surfaces of the dies or blocks 121, 122, as shown in Fig. 31, and the cooperating surfaces of the inserts 74, 75 of the movable gripping device H will be similarly formed in an obvious manner. The lower gripper V is constituted by a flat plate of the same thickness as the, plate U and is guided vertically directly beneath the latter. The vertical guiding of both plates U, V is effected by means of cheeks l/V secured in place between the guideways E, F at the front and rear of the machine and having on their inner opposing surfaces guide grooves 130 in which the end edges of the plates U, V are snugly fitted. The lower plate V is guided in the grooves 130 throughout its height, but the upper plate U is only guided in said grooves for a comparatively short distance as the die 121 thereof is brought into close proximity to the die 122 of the plate V. In this manner it is possible to prevent lateral or longitudinal displacement of the dies relatively to each other as they are brought together. As previously stated the relative position of the dies may be varied by the adjustment of the gibs 123 and when this adjustment has been effected the guide cheeks TV will always cause the dies to meet each other in exactly the same relation, to insure accuracy of the work.

At its end portions the lower gripping plate V is provided with lateral projections or flanges 131 by means of which it is pinned (by pins 132) to vertically sliding rectangular frames or yokes 133 arranged at the front and rear respectively of the machine and guided vertically by means of the adj acent portions of the guide-ways E, F, immediately back of the cheeks W. In Fig. 14, the cheeks W have been omitted in order to show the mounting of one of the sliding yokes 133 and its connection with the lower gripping plate V. Journaled transversely in the bed or base of the machine beneath the plate V is a shaft 134 (Figs. 8 and 9) having similar cams 135 to engage the respective yokes and the lower end portions of the plate V. Hence as the cams are oscillated, the yokes 133 and plate V will be raised and lowered. It will be noted that the yokes 133 are so located as to underlie and support the free end portion of the lower jaw 69 of the gripping device H, as shown in Fig. 15, and it will be understood that said is raised and lowered by the vertical movement of the yokes 133 as the cams 135 are oscillated, all as more particularly described hereinafter. The cam shaft 134 is actuated from the cross head 114 of the sliding bar 111, which cross head has applied to the rear end thereof a boss 136 to which a link 137 is pivoted at one end by means of a pin 138. The opposite end of the link 137 is pivoted by means of a bolt 139 to a lever 140 fixed at 141 to the rear end of the cam shaft 134. This connection between the bar-111 and cam shaft 134 is so arranged, and the cams 135 are so designed and located on said shaft, that as the upper gripping plate U is moved in one direction the plate V and jaw 69 will be moved together in the opposite direction.

Hence as the plate U is raised, the membersthe stock into the spaces between-the member V and the grippers G, H.

Referring particularly to the device T, it will be noted that it comprises a vertically directed guiding plate 143 reciprocated vertically by a slidingvbar 144 similar to the sliding bar 111 previously described. The bar 144 is provided at its upper end with an anti-friction roller 145 engaging a face groove in the cam R, and at its lower end said bar is provided with an integral bracket 146 by which the plate 143 is supported. The bar 144 is guided in the bridge piece K similarly to the bar 111 and its guide in said bridge has associated therewith a gib 147 and adjusting screw 148 similar to the gib 112 and the adjusting screw 113. The bracket 146 is designed to move in close proximity to or contact with one face of the cross head 114 of the bar 111, and said bracket is provided with a depending flange 149 having holes 150 for the reception of bolts 151 which are screwed into an offset connecting plate 152. This latter plate is provided at its lower portion with a flange 153 creating a seat 154 for the guide plate 143, which is screwed to the flange 153 by screws 155 and bears at one side face against the opposing face of the gripping plate U. The guide plate 143 may be adjusted vertically by means similar to those previously described in connection with the plate U. Between the plate 152 and the bracket 146 a wedge shaped key 156 is interposed, and the opening 150 in the flange 149 for the bolts 151 are made sufficiently large to permit the plate 152 to be raised and lowered relatively to the bracket'when the bolts are loosened. This raising and lowering of the plate 152 is effected by proper manipulation of the wedge or key 156 and after the desired adjustment has been reached the parts are tightly clamped in the adjusted position by tightening the bolts 151.

The guiding device S is similar to the device T and bears the same relation to the upper gripping plate U though located on the opposite side thereof. The sliding bar 156 of the device S is provided with an antifriction roller 157 engaging the groove in the cam P and said bar 156 is guided in the bridge K by means of a guideway having a gib 158 and adjusting screw 159 similar to those previously described. At its lower end the bar 156 is connected with a guide plate 160 placed oppositely to the guide plate 143 with reference to the upper gripper member U. Connection between the bracket 156 and plate 160 is elfected by means of a bracket 161, flange 162, bolts 16-3, plate 164, key 165, and screws 166, similar to those previously described in connection with the plate 143.

In order to maintain the lower aw 69 of the gripping device 11 in exact alinement with the lower gripping member V, the latter is provided with fixed alining pins 167 adapted to enter correspondingly formed holes 167 in the adjacent face of the block or insert 74 when the jaw 69 is moved into proximity to the member V In the same manner the lower 37 of the movable gripping device G is provided with alining pins 168 adapted to enter holes 168 (Fig. 14) in the plate V. The pins 168 may be spring cushioned, as shown in Fig. 7, in which case they will preferably extend the entire length of the jaw 37 through sockets 17 0 housing springs 171 acting on said pins.

Between the left hand gripping device G and the lower intermediate gripping member V a stripper 172 is interposed. This may comprise an L-sha ied plate one flange of which is fixed horizontally to the bed of the guideway while the other flange rises alongside the plate V. The stripper plate 172 is considerably shorter than the plate V and arranged at the intermediate portion thereof parallel to the die block 122, and the intermediate portion of the free end of the jaw 37 is cut away at 173 (Figs. 25 and 26) to clear the stripper 172 and enable its insert 45 to move into close proximity to the side face of the die 122 when the plate V is projected above the top of the fixed stripping device.

lhe operation of our improved machine in manufacturing plaited metal sheets for automobile radiators is substantially as follows: The flat metal strip 44 which is to be plaited is inserted in the space between the pivoted ends of the jaws 37, 42 of the left hand movable gripping device G when said jaws are approximately in the position shown in Fig. 22, that is, when the link 46 is in an intermediate position in which the screws 54 carried by the crank shaft or sleeve 48 are raised out of contact with the hardened inserts or plugs 55 of the upper jaw 42. Under these conditions, the springs 62 acting on the plate 60 will hold the gripping member 45 away from the cotiperating gripping member 45" to such an extent as to permit the sheet of stock to be easily slid forward between the jaws. The intermediate gripping members U, V being separated, as shown in Fig. 15, the forward end of the sheet is pushed forward between them and it will usually be pushed all the way into the bite of the jaws of the right hand gripping device H, although this is not essential. It will be remembered that when the lower intermediate gripping member V is in its lowermost position the aw 69 will be likewise lowered, as it rests freely on the top surface of the yokes 133 to which the member V is connected. On the other hand, the upper jaw 67 is urged upwardly by means of its spring pressed plates 60, and hence in this position of the parts there is considerably more than the necessary clearance between the jaws 67 69 to permit the stock to be inserted between the coiiperating gripping members 74, 75.

When the parts are in the relative position shown in Fig. 15. but with the sheet 44 not yet plaited, as shown in that figure, the machine may be started by applying power to the main shaft C and the lower end of the lever 1 will be moved toward the right through the connections described in order to close the device G on the stock and advance it for the feeding movement. Prior to the swinging of the crank 47 by the movement of the link 46 into the position shown in Fig. 15, the pins 59 of the lower jaw 37 will be pushed upward in their sockets by means of the springs of the pins 101 in the base portion 15*, which latter pins will then be in alinement with said sockets. lVhen the pins 101 project into the sockets of the pins 59 they lock the whole gripping device G in a definite position lengthwise of the guideway E. The screws 54, 56 and 57 are so adjusted that there is a certain amount of play or lost motion between the crank shaft 48 and the jaws 37, 42 and when the movement of the link 46 toward the right is started the screws 56 will be in contact with the pins 58 while the screws 54 and 57 will be out of contact with the plugs 55 and pins 59 respectively. As the link 46 is moved toward the right the crank shaft 48 will first be swung freely on its axis 49, without moving the jaws 37, 42 in their guide, until the lower ends of the screws 57 meet the pins 59 to push down the pins 101 and thereby release the jaws from the guide. As the screws 57 meet the pins 59 and release the jaws, the movement of the crank shaft on its pivot will be arrested and the continued movement of the link 46, in acting on the now rigid crank shaft, will move the jaws 37 42 forward in their guide. The screws 54 will be so adjusted that they will meet the plugs 54 and press the upper jaw 42 down on the stock, to clamp it tightly between the hardened blocks 45, 45 with the required amount of pressure at approximatelythe same time that the pins 57 meet the pins 59. Hence the blocks 45, 45 must grip the sheet with the necessary pressure beforethe jaws begin to advance in the guide, and as the jaws move forward the sheet will be tightly pinched between them, whereby it will be fed forward by the jaws without possibility of the least displacement. The screws 54 are depressed so forcibly against the upper jaw by the described movement of the crank shaft that the screws 57, pins 59' and pins 101 are useful in relieving them from a portion of the considerable strain to which they would be subjected.

Referring to Fig. 16, it will be observed that the jaws of the movable gripping device G carry the whole sheet of stock forward to a certain extent between the separated gripping members U, V, and between the separated jaws 67, 69 of the oppositely placed movable gripping device H. The cams on the main shaft are so timed as to hold the aws 67, 69, gripping members U, V and guide members 160, 143 away from the sheet during the advance of the gripping device G into the position shown in Fig. 16. lVhen this position has been reached, a dwell of the cam L holds the gripping device G momentarily fixed in the position shown, while the cams O, R, Q, and P actuate their connections to close the jaws 67, 69 on the sheet, bring the gripping members U, V to gether on the sheet to clamp it intermediately of the respective pairs of jaws, and lower the guide members 160, 143 into close proximity to or approximately into contact with the sheet, as shown in Fig. 17 The gripping members U, V are clamped tightly on the opposite faces of the sheet by the downward movement of the sliding bar 111 actuated by the cam Q. The bar 111 is actuated by the cam Q, to carry the clamping member U against the upper surface of the stock, and simultaneously the lower gripping member V will be elevated to engage the under surface of the stock and clamp it fast at a point substantially in horizontal alinement with the bite of the jaws 37, 42. This elevating movement of the gripping member V is produced by the lowering of the link 137 on the cross head 114. As the link 137 is depressed its lower end will swing the lever 140 downward and thereby actuate the cam shaft 134' in such a manner that the cams 135 will raise the yokes 133 and the member V to which they are connected.

At the same time that the cams 135 raise the gripping member V they will also raise the lower jaw 69, and simultaneously the upper jaw 67 will be forcibly swung down to clamp the metal tightly between the gripping member on said jaw and the gripping member 74 on the now elevated lower jaw. The clamping of the upper jaw 67 on the metal is effected through the connections with the actuating lever M in substantially the same manner as the jaw 42 is depressed by its connections with the lever I. The lever M is actuated oppositely with respect to the lever I so as to move the link 81 toward the left thereby swinging the crank shaft 78 on its pivot 79 until the screws 84 contact with the inserts or plugs 85 and press the jaw 67 in tight contact with the stock. At the same time that the screws 84 are depressed to clamp the jaw 67 on the stock the screws 86 will be depressed, and they will depress in turn the pins 88. The latter pins will depress the spring pressed pins 92 in the bed F X of the guideway F, (which pins 92 have previously been urged upward into the lower ends of the sockets of the pins 88 to lock the gripping device H against longitudinal movement in the guideway F), so that the pins 92 will be forced out of the block 68 to release the same. This position of the parts is shown in Fig. 17, wherein the link 81 is shown as having reached a position in which it will clamp the upper jaw on the stock and force the pins 88 into a position wherein their meeting ends are flush with the dividing line between the block 68 and the bed of its guideway.

In case the machine is intended to form identical equally spaced plaits in the metal sheet, the respective gripping devices, G, H, will be equidistantly spaced from the opposing side'faces of the gripping members U, V, as shown in Fig. 17, when said gripping members and the device H have been clamped on the sheet preparatory to the actual plaiting operation. At this stage, the guide members 160, 143 will be moved down through their connections with the cams 'P, R by means of the sliding bars 156 and 144, until the lower beveled edge portions with which said guide members are preferably provided, are in close proximity to or in actual contact with the upper surface of the stock. The cams P, R are similarly formed and similarly arranged with respect to their connecting parts so that the guide members 160, 143 will always be actuated together.

From the position shown in Fig. 17 the parts move into the position shown in Fig. 18 as the main cam shaft continues to rotate. The cam Q is provided with a dwell which becomes effective at this time to hold the gripping members U, V tightly on the sheet, and both gripping devices G, H which are now tightly clamped on the stock move to- 

